SoVeryTired

PMs replied to. If I haven't had any interest by the weekend, I'm putting the 36 hour bumping rule up on eBay.

And the new Squier Chris Aiken P just has a single volume control.

THE G&L SB2 just has volume controls for each pickup, no tone control - I think I could survive quite happily with that setup (but again, it's a PJ rather than a straightforward P).

Mine's either on or... on. Likewise with the volumes (it's a VVT Squier P Special), as they don't seem to blend gradually - I've read that this is a 'feature' of two volume controls on a PJ bass.

I guess I use the pickup mix and my right hand position as my tone control.

Wow, busy forum! Bumping up from the depths...

Okay, some more information: £610 brand new from Bass Direct last November. Great customer service from MTD - when you e-mail, Mike Tobias himself replies! The build quality at the price is truly outstanding.

Selling because I've realised my preference is for a P/J pickup combination.

If it wasn't missing a string, I'd be on it!

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1350116198' post='1834670']
Fair enough

I love my job and it has been very hard not to talk about the various projects I have worked on

No one usually sees the backstage stuff but when I watch a band I'm (sadly) thinking of how it all goes together and who won the contract!
[/quote]

Very cool job!

I've found myself getting quite disappointed in Muse over the last two albums. If they were starting from scratch I might appreciate the material more but I have something better (IMO) to compare back to. See also Biffy Clyro's downward (IMO) trajectory over the last three albums from their great earlier material.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1350148103' post='1835216']
Yeah that lovely ACG with the nut piezo would be interesting to own. The Hagstrom Viking would be a nice addition to the collection too!

Truckstop
[/quote]

+1 on the ACG.

[quote name='LeeCassidy' timestamp='1350312382' post='1837124']
Also, another noob question; if you're going for a real staccato, tight, percussive metal bass sound, what pickup do you use? Bridge, neck, or both? This is by no means the be all and end all of the bass sound I'm going for, but if I wanted to get this sort of tone, what would you recommend?[/quote]

Without watching the clip... if you said to me "play staccato, tight and percussive" I'd certainly be playing nearer the bridge, and probably favouring the bridge pickup.

Have a bump, just because you did what I'd thought about doing to my old RBX360!

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' timestamp='1350296189' post='1836832']
My BTB676 is 35" and 17mm string spacing, likewise with the newer TRB 1006s are 35" and 17mm

I think the older ones used to be 19mm but have sinced changed
[/quote]

I stand corrected - last time I was looking at them it was a 19mm model. Their website gives just about every neck measurement possible but not string spacing!

I've had a 24-fret 5 for the last year (I'm still fairly new to this whole bass-playing lark), recently got a 20-fret 4 and enjoy each in their own way. The 4 is really easy to move around but I do find myself missing those low and high notes - they've become part of the way I play certain songs and it feels like a compromise having to play up an octave (or down for those high notes!).

I think I'd always want to have a 5 as my main player but a 4 as backup or just for something a bit different.

Bass, tuner, lead, capo, screwdriver, allen keys, feeler gauges, ruler. All I needed to buy was a decent ruler (i.e. one where the measurements start right at the end) and the feeler gauges (for measuring the gap between string and fret when checking relief).

I used [url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/support/articles/bass-guitar-setup-guide/"]Fender's setup guide [/url]and, even without pictures or video, it makes perfect sense. I say that as a complete DIYphobe but this job is pretty straightforward, will save you lots of money in tech costs and give you a better understanding of how your bass is put together.

+1 on the string spacing -
[quote name='geilerbass' timestamp='1350289937' post='1836736']
The Bartolini branded MK1 pickups that are prolific throughout Asian-made, mid-price basses are pretty decent as branded pickups go. Best thing would be to give them a try somewhere - you should be able to find an Ibanez SR505 in a shop that you can try out.

BTB's and Yamaha TRB's have wider spacing and longer scale, so may not be for you.
[/quote]

+1 on the scale and spacing - I'm pretty sure BTBs are 35" and 19mm spacing. I've found that the wider spacing works well for me - I trip over the strings less!

Wow! I have enough trouble getting my head around 24 frets and no detuners!

That looks like the sort of bass that'd really spark some creativity.

If anyone's interested in an MTD (and losing body parts in the process, it would seem), I know someone who's got one up for sale...

(Because I definitely would lose some valuables if I buy my next bass without selling this one first!)

For sale: MTD Kingston Heir 5-string bass in translucent cherry with rosewood fingerboard. I've had this bass for a year from new and it's in fantastic condition - you have to look closely under a light to see any surface marks. Recently restrung with DR Hi Beams and comes in a high quality MTD Kingston padded gig bag. A really great bass for the money - the neck in particular feels amazing.

The specs are:
- Carved ash body with flamed maple top
- Asymmetrical, one-piece Maple Neck
- Buzz Feiten Tuning System
- Rosewood fingerboard
- MTD Quick Release Bridge
- Trans Cherry gloss finish
- MTD MM and J exposed-pole alnico pickups
- Five controls: 1 volume, 1 pan, and 3-band EQ
- 35-inch scale 5-string with 19mm string spacing at bridge
- 24 medium jumbo frets
- Weight 4.2kg (approx. 9lb 4oz)

Collection preferred or courier shipping available. [s]£375[/s] [b]£300 fixed[/b] (no trades please, I need the cash towards a custom build). Please message me with any questions. Thanks for viewing!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1350052775' post='1834092']
Naaah... that's what my first choice is for


[/quote]

The latest model from Sauron's Custom Basses, that well-known workshop on the slopes of Mount Doom?

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1350049695' post='1834032']
Next time you're about get me this one will you

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Esh_Poseidon_5_Black.html"]http://www.bassdirec...on_5_Black.html[/url]
[/quote]

That bass scares me. It seems like the sort of thing a wife would kill you with.

Piezo in the nut? Wow, hadn't realised quite how unique this bass was!

Nice bass! The neck on them is fantastic.

My wife think's she's keeping tabs on how many instruments I've got but she slipped up when she said "That's it, six is the absolute limit" - with an acoustic guitar, an electric and two basses, even counting my daughter's pink 3/4-size classical toy, I've still got space for another.

For bass I use some fairly cheap £25 Sennheisers from Tesco. They handle the low stuff much better than the £100 Shures I use for singing and guitar. The only problems I've had are when I play bass and sing - they don't handle both frequencies well, and the vocals tend to distort. They also don't seal that well - I find myself having to push them into my ears inbetween songs. I should really get some decent custom moulds but there's always something more interesting to spend the money on!

What about tapewounds? I'm not a fretless expert at all but the one I borrowed had tapewounds to get a compromise between roundwound tone and fingerboard protection - sounded pretty good to me.

These look realy interesting - I'd give them a try but the two-set minimum is a bit of a turn-off when money's tight. The Is anyone using them succesfully on a 35" scale?

I had the same strap, different fault - it lasted all of 6 months. I looked down when rehearsing and noticed the stitching on the leather had unravelled and the bass was effectively hanging by a couple of threads. Fortunately I saw it in time before the headstock went floorwards. The leather was way too thin and flexible as well. Strings Direct sorted me out with an alternative as a replacement so all was well in the end but I'd avoid these comfort straps like the plague.